After more than 25 years with the company, Goro Abe, the director of WarioWare, has departed from Nintendo

Goro Abe, renowned for developing the WarioWare series at Nintendo, has departed from the company following nearly three decades of service.

Abe is transitioning to academia as he joins Osaka Electro-Communication University as a professor within the recently introduced Game and Social Design department.

"I retired from Nintendo at the end of February," Abe shared on X/Twitter earlier today (translated by a machine).

He continued, "Starting in April, I will assume a professorial role at Osaka Electro-Communication University, specifically within the new 'Game and Social Design' department.

"My aim is to engage in game-related research and development, hoping to connect with a broader spectrum of individuals than before."

Abe's last game as director was WarioWare: Move It!, released in 2023.

His departure follows a report indicating that the average tenure for Nintendo Japan employees is 14.4 years. Staff at Nintendo of Europe remain for an average of 11.1 years, while those at Nintendo of America and Nintendo Australia stay for 10 and 8.5 years, respectively.